A jury has retired to consider its verdict on an unqualified driver who denies manslaughter.

Head waiter Shakrul Islam was charged after driving over and killing his friend Kyle Clarke when a suspected fuel theft went horribly wrong.

Staff intervened when they saw Mr Clarke filling a container of petrol through the back window of a Ford Fiesta at the Spar petrol station in Hengrove. When a tussle ensued between Mr Clarke and shop worker Abu Sayem, the Fiesta rolled back with passenger Shakrul Islam inside, Bristol Crown Court heard.

Islam, left, denies manslaughter but has pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving in January (Image: Elizabeth Cook)

But Islam then drove forward, straight over 27-year-old Mr Clarke, and continued with Mr Clarke trapped under the vehicle. The incident, captured on CCTV, was played to a jury with Mr Clarke’s family watching on from the public gallery.

Islam, 31, of Rounceval Street, Chipping Sodbury, denied manslaughter but pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving in January.

Read More

Anna Vigars, prosecuting, said staff became suspicious when they saw Mr Clarke filling the small car with more than £30 worth of fuel at just gone 9pm.

Mr Sayem was alerted and shouted for Mr Clarke to pay, before Mr Clarke returned to the Fiesta’s driver’s seat.

Kyle Clarke who died in January (Image: Family of Kyle Clark)

CCTV on the forecourt of the garage in Roman Farm Road captured the moment Mr Sayem then tussled with Mr Clarke, before the Fiesta drove over Mr Clarke and continued out onto the main road.

Mrs Vigars said: “Mr Islam turned right. As he did so he drove straight over Mr Clarke as he lay on the ground. He knocked Mr Clarke’s body up in the wheel. He drove off with him trapped under the car.”